Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALFATYK’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALFATYK’, particularly characterized by having small, white flowers with a purple center, 1 to 3 peduncles that are short and moderate, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALFATYK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PHALFATYK’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant with numerous small, attractive and unique white flowers with purple center, suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALFATYK’ is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in December 2007 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands of the proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘01-1789’ (unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘PHALDOMEO’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,682).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in December 2010. Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culture since 2013 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europe on Sep. 13, 2016. ‘PHALFATYK’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and can be used to distinguish ‘PHALFATYK’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant.

-   -   1) Small, white flowers with a purple center;     -   2) 1 to 3 peduncles;     -   3) Peduncle is short and moderate; and     -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, from 40-week old plants in October 2017. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of ‘PHALFATYK’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALFATYK’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALFATYK’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALFATYK’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under 4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. Observations and measurements were made in October 2017 on 40-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 9 centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 20 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Moth orchid.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALFATYK’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1789’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘PHALDOMEO’ (U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 25,682). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots (RHS 190B/C)             with branching lateral roots having light green colored root             tips (RHS 144B/C). -   Plant:     -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Following asexual             propagation (in-vitro), the rooted cutting grows for 20 to             24 weeks and is transplanted to a 9 cm pot. The plants are             finished after 38-40 weeks.         -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to             panicle.         -   Height (from soil level to top of             inflorescence).—Approximately 30.0 cm to 35.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 20.0 cm to 23.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Moderate. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 9 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 10.0 cm             to 12.0 cm. Width: 5.5 cm to 6.5 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base             shape: Slightly elongated. Apex: Obtuse unequal. Leaf blade             angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal             position): Between 15 degrees and 30 degrees. Leaf margin:             Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS             146B. Texture: Rough. Thickness: 2.2 mm to 2.4 mm. Venation:             Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS             146A. Lower surface: RHS 146B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 3.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—17 to 25.         -   Length.—30.0 cm to 35.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—4.1 mm to 4.5 mm.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Brown (RHS 200B).         -   Internode length.—3.0 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Callosities.—None. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle             inflorescence with twisted (non-bilaterally) symmetrical             flowers that open in succession beginning with the lowermost             flower.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 140.0 mm to             190.0 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 7 to 8 months             after planting in a 9 cm (diameter) pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 38.0 mm to 43.0 mm. Diameter: 42.0 mm to             47.0 mm. Depth of lip: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 8 to 13 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower bud.—Average size: Medium. Length: 14.0 mm to             16.0 mm. Width: 12.0 mm to 14.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped.             Color: Mix of light green (RHS 145C/D) with a touch of             red-purple (RHS 72A/B).         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Obtuse symmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip):             20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Width: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm. Color (when             fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS             NN155C). Over color: Purple (RHS N78B). Lower surface: Basic             color: Purple (RHS N78C/D). Over color: White (RHS NN155C).         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse symmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 24.0 mm to             26.0 mm. Width: 15.0 mm to 17.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).             Over color: Purple (RHS N78B). Lower surface: Basic color:             White (RHS NN155C). Over color: Light purple (RHS N78D).         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Length (from base to tip): 23.0 mm to 25.0 mm. Width: 15.0             mm to 17.0 mm. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface:             Basic color: White (RHS NN155C). Over color: Purple (RHS             N78B). Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C). Over             color: Touch of light purple (RHS N78D).         -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 1.0             mm to 2.0 mm. Color of whiskers: White (RHS NN155C).             Pubescence on the lip: Absent.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type IV (as described in the             International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of             Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); weakly             spatulate. Margin: Entire. Length: 13.0 mm to 15.0 mm.             Width: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Color: Yellow (RHS 7B) at the             base; purple (RHS N78A) toward the margin.         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Length: 15.0 mm             to 17.0 mm. Width: 14.0 mm to 16.0 mm. Color: Slightly             yellow (RHS 7C) at the base; purple (RHS N78A) toward the             whiskers.         -   Callus.—Average size: Small. Height: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm.             Length: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Width: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Color:             Light yellow (RHS 10C/D) with very small dots. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Column.—Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Diameter: 3.5 mm to             3.7 mm. Color: Purple (RHS N78B).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 0.7 mm to 0.9 mm. Color:             Orange (RHS 24A).         -   Ovary.—Length: 6.0 mm to 8.0 mm. Diameter: 1.5 mm to 1.7 mm.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 29.0 mm to 31.0 mm. Diameter: 1.8 mm to             2.0 mm. Color: Light green (RHS 144B/C) and very light green             (RHS 157D) toward the flower. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis to date. -   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on     plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

The female parent plant of ‘PHALFATYK’, cultivar ‘01-1789’ (unpatented), is no longer in existence, so a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

‘PHALFATYK’ differs from male parent plant ‘PHALDOMEO’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,682) in that ‘PHALFATYK’ has petals with purple (RHS N78B) over color and a light yellow callus, whereas ‘PHALDOMEO’ has petals with purple (RHS N78A) over color and a yellow callus. Additionally, ‘PHALFATYK’ has larger flowers and longer leaves than ‘PHALDOMEO’.

‘PHALFATYK’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named ‘PHALELENO’ (unpatented) and ‘PHALDONFI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,066). ‘PHALFATYK’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALELENO’ in that ‘PHALFATYK’ has brown peduncles and an apical lobe that is slightly yellow at the base with purple toward the whiskers, whereas ‘PHALELENO’ has green peduncles with a touch of brown and an apical lobe that is red with yellow on the sides and purple toward the whiskers. Additionally, ‘PHALFATYK’ has narrower apical lobes than ‘PHALELENO’.

‘PHALFATYK’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDONFI’ in that ‘PHALFATYK’ has a center flower pattern, a weakly spatulate lateral lobe and an apical lobe that is slightly yellow at the base with purple toward the whiskers, whereas ‘PHALFDONFI’ has a striped flower pattern, a spatulate lateral lobe and a red-purple apical lobe. Additionally, ‘PHALFATYK’ has narrower apical lobes than ‘PHALDONFI’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALFATYK’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 